Clock horn button



MarCh 1941. M. H. HOLLINGSWORTH 2, 7

CLOCK HORN BUTTON Filed March 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Maw/ice12. fibllzr yswori/z March 1941. M. H. HOLLINGSWORTH 4, 27

CLOCK HORN BUTTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1936 M A Home) March11, 1941. o m sw 2,234,527

CLOCK HORN BUTTON Filed March 12, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 E 5 At! ysParental Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to automobile horn buttons of the typemounted at the center of the steering wheel or the automobile, andparticularly to a horn button in the form of a clock, and an importantobject of my invention is to provide a clock horn button which is woundand kept wound automatically by the rotation of the steering wheel asthe automobile is being driven.

Another important object 01 my invention is to provide a clock hornbutton which can be bodily substituted for conventional horn buttons nowused at the center of the steering wheels.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a clock hornbutton of the character indicated whose body portion or supportingmember which carries the clock can be constructed in different diametersso as to have peripheral portions extending radially outwardly from thecenter of the steering wheel to positions approaching the periphery ofthe steering wheel, so as to position the body or supporting member foractuation by the hand of the driver while the hand is engaged with therim of the steering wheel.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a readingof the following description in connection with the drawings, whereinfor purposes of illustration I have shown preferred embodiments of myinvention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general top plan view of a steering wheel showing a clockhorn button in accordance with the present invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the hub of the steering wheel showing thehorn button removed.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1approximately on the line 33.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the clock horn button looking upwardlyin Figure 3 approximately on the line l-4.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the clock horn button with the bottomplate I of the clock horn button body removed.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but with the operating inertiaweight removed.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the bayonet slots which are arrangedin the conventional band on the sides of the steering wheel openingwhich is provided conventionally to attach releasably the conventionalhorn buttons and the clock horn button of. the present invention.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of the inerthat weight showing theratchet dog.

Figure 9 is an elevational view partly in section of the setting key.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a modification wherein the clock of theclock horn button is hinged in place on the supporting member, the saidclock having conventional clock mechanism, and being swingabie to thedotted line position shown in Figure 11 for winding and settingpurposes.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through themodified form of clock horn button shown in Figure 10.

Referring indetail to the drawings, the numeral I generally designates aclock horn button in accordance with the present invention and thiscomprises the flat cylindrical body or supporting member 6 whose lowerend is closed by the removable plate 1 which is held removably in placeby any suitable means and has on its bottom a metal plate 8 adapted toengage the upper end of the expanding spring 9 which is circumposed onand rises above the centering member ID which is mounted on the floor ofthe well H which is formed in the hub I2 of the steering wheel which isgenerally designated H, as clearlyshown in Figure 3. Axially of thecentering member I0 is the contact supporting member I which includesthe block ll incorporating the horn button contact l6.

Below the top of the well II is the bayonet slot retaining band II whichcontains the bayonet slots II which have the horizontal portion l8opening into the vertical portion which rises above and depends belowthe horizontal portion ii to receive the lugs or bayonets 2| which arecircumierentially spaced on the exterior of the peripheral wall of thecylindrical portion 6 of the supporting member.

The structure thus far described is typical of the conventionalarrangements now in use for horn buttons at the center of a steeringwheel, so that it is evident that the clock horn button of the presentinvention is mechanically peri'ectly adapted to replace the conventionalhorn buttons now in use simply by removing the conventional horn buttonand installing the clock horn button of the present invention.

Across the top of the flat cylinder 6 is a horizontal partition 22 abovewhich the clock 23 is supported, the beveled annulus 24 rising radiallyinwardly to the flat top portion 25 which contains a beveled opening 2!engaging the top of the clock, and a radially outward portion 21 of thebeveled annulus extends radially outwardly from the sides of thecylinder 6 and overhangs the steering wheel l3.

The overhanging annular portion 21 may be extended radially outwardly soas to overhang the steering wheel to a greater extent than shown in thepresent drawings, in order to present portions close to the rim of thesteering wheel engageabie by the hand of the driver without removing thehand from the rim of the steering wheel for operating the horn button.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, the clock 23 isheld down in engagement with the partition 22 by the beveled opening 25,knobs 28 onthe bottom of the clock resting on the top of the partition22 so as to mount the clock 23 securely. Extending downwardly from theapproximate center of the back of the clock 23 is the setting shaft 29which extends into an opening 30 in the partition 22. An operating shaft3! depends from an eccentric portion of the back of the clock 23 andthrough an opening 32 in the partition 22, and the shaft 3i has thereona ratchet spur or wheel 33 which is located in the cylinder 6 betweenthe partition 22 and the bottom I. The bottom plate 7 has also anarcuate opening 34 registering with a slot 34' in the partition 22enabling reaching the regulating lever 35 which is exposed by a slot 35'in the back of the clock.

Swingably mounted with respect to the ratchet wheel 33 and on the sameaxis is the inertia weight which is generally designated 36 and which isgenerally segmental in form and possessed of a comma-shaped opening 31in its small end, in the tail portion 38 of which is mounted theflexible ratchet dog 39 which is engaged with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 33 the ratchet wheel being accommodated in the circular part ofthe opening 31. The arrangement of the 4 ratchet dog and of the weight36 relative to the ratchet wheel 33 is such that when the steering wheelis swung in one direction the weight 36 will remain behind and cause thedog 39 to slide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, while when thesteering wheel is swung in the opposite direction, the ratchet wheel 33will be rotated and such rotation continued until the works (not shown)of the clock 23 are wound.

The inertia weight 36 has a smaller opening 40 radially outwardly of itsopening 31 which can be registered with the opening 30 in the partition22 to enable manipulation of the setting shaft 29. by means of the key3| and which is provided for the purpose and which may be conveniently5'5 carried ready for use in a conforming opening 32 60 in the plate I;and the regulating lever 35 can be reached when the weight 36 is swungto clear the opening 34 as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings theedge of the weight having a cutaway portion affording this clearance.

When it is desired to reset or to regulate the clock 23, the clock hornbutton which is generally designated by the numeral 5 is simply removedfrom its place in the well in the center of the wheel in the same mannerthat other conventional horn buttons of this type are removed, and whenremoved the clock horn button has its bottom plate I removed so as toexpose the various openings in the partition 22 for reaching theresetting shaft 29 or the regulating lever 35, as

5 the case may be. Attention is called to the fact that the bore of theopening 31 in the weight 36 is smooth and that the weight swings free ofthe ratchet wheel 33.

The arcuate slot M in the plate 1 enables the insertion of a suitableinstrument for engaging the opening 43 in the weight 36 when it isdesired to wind or start the clock 23. The operation of winding isaccomplished by oscillating the weight until the clock is sumcientlywound to run of its own accord. This provision is particularly usefulfor winding and starting the clock after the automobile has stood for asufficiently long time to permit the clock to run down.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings showing a companionmodification, it will be found that there are therein present thecylinder (in of the first described embodiment topped by the partition1a which is, in turn, topped by the upwardly and radially inwardlyinclined annulus 240. which has the radially outwardly extending annularportion 21a which is extended radially outwardly so as to overhang thesteering wheel to have a bottom plate I, but the partition la directlyengages the spring 9 of the steering wheel arrangements including thehorn button contact l6, when the button is depressed.

Instead of the overhanging beveled opening 26 shown in the priorlydescribed embodiment, the present embodiment has the concave upwardlyfacing annulus 26a, in the center of the member 240., the said annulusbeing formed to provide the supporting flange 50 upon which the edgeportion of the bottom of the clock 23a rests while in the normalposition shown in full lines in Figure 11 and also in Figure 10. At thetop of one side of the opening 23:: is a hinge structure 5| in the formof a lug 52 having a hinge pin 53 traversing lugs 55 and 55 projectingfrom the corresponding edge of the clock 23a, whereby the clock 23a isswingably mounted in the top of the supporting medium which is generallydesignated 6a. Any suitable means (not shown) may be utilized tomaintain the clock 23a. in the position shown in full lines and restingon the flange 50, which is releasable in some suitable manner to permitthe clock to be swung to the dotted line position shown in Figure 11 toprovide access to the winding and setting members 56 and 51 which dependfrom the back of the clock. Like the cylinder 6 the supporting member 6ahas lugs (not shown) projecting therefrom for engaging in the bayonetslots I8, i9, 20 of the band I! in the well of the hub of the steeringwheel for releasably mounting the clock horn button 5a in place on thesteering wheel.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire tolimit the application of the invention thereto, and any change orchanges may be made in the materials, and in the structure andarrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a conventional horn button receiving well on anautomobile steering wheel, said well including bayonet slots and abottom contact, of a clock horn button comprising a supporting member inthe form of a cylindrical shell, means removably securing said hornbutton in said well and permitting limited vertical movement of the hornbutton in the well, a partition at the upper end of said shell, anupwardly projecting annulus on the upper end of said shell above saidpartition, said annulus being formed with an opening, a clockworksdisposed betweensaid partition and said annulus, said opening exposingthe top of said clockworks, said clockworks including a winding elementdepending through an opening formed in said partition, and inertia meansin said shell below said partition and connected to said winding elementto automatically effect winding of the clockworks as an incident tosteering the wheel.

2. The combination with an automobile steering wheel having aconventional horn button accommodating well in its hub, said well beingprovided with horn button retaining means and at its bottom with a hornbutton operating contact; of a clock formed to normally telescope intosaid well and be depressible to engage and operate said horn buttonoperating contact, said clock includ ing elements effectively engageablewith said horn button retaining means to normally retain said clock insaid well for rotation with the steering wheel, said,clook comprising awinding inertia weight wholly supported by said clock and spaced fromsaid hub and said well and swingable on an axis substantially parallelto that of the steering wheel for winding the clock as the steeringwheel is turned to either side in normal steering operations.

3. In combination with an automobile steering wheel having aconventional horn button accommodating well in its hub, said well beingprovided with horn button retaining means permitting relative movementof the horn button and a horn contact operated by depressing the hornbutton, of a clock horn button provided with means for operativelyengaging said retaining means, said clock horn button comprising a shellshaped like a conventional horn button and bodily removable from thewell but normally telescoped in said well, a clock on said shell, saidclock having its face exposed at the top of the shell, a clockworksbelow the clock face and having a winding shaft, an inertia weightswinga'bly mounted in said shell on an axis approximately parallel tothat of the steering wheel and adapted to swing relative to the steeringwheel and shell as the steering wheel and shell are turned, said inertiaweight being operatively connected to said winding shaft and spaced fromsaid hub and said well.

MAURICE H. HOLLINGSWORTH.

